Editorial Issue #4

Approximately 15 percent of Bucknellians marry another Bucknellian. We’ve all heard of the statistics, seen the pictures of marriages at Rooke Chapel, and read the stories about how now-married Bucknellians met in their freshman anthropology course. While these figures and stories are heartwarming and are a substantial part of the University’s identity, some students on campus also feel as though they add a bit of pressure.

This pressure is increased tenfold every February, as Valentine’s Day brings up all of these statistics and stories in full force. Granted, regardless of the campus, students tend to be very aware of their relationship status come Valentine’s Day–a teenager complaining about being single on February 14 is nothing new. The annual buzz leading up to the holiday renders it a cliché, making it difficult to write a piece that seems remotely original or new.

However, the sense of solitude seems to differ on the University’s campus because of these traditions. If you are not in a relationship or are not invited to one of the many date parties occurring on Valentine’s Day Weekend, you seemingly failed by those standards. Students seem divided on their sentiments towards the holiday. Some believe that their one task in the week leading up to the 14th is to find someone to spend Valentine’s Day with or make other arrangements to sulk with their friends, the latter of which means you are not on track to find your University soul mate in the long run. Others seem to have absolutely no regard for the holiday at all.

The widespread focus on being with someone on Valentine’s Day stems largely from the social scripts and societal norms that surround students that tell them that being single is not desirable, that you can’t be complete without your “other half.” Paired with the already prevalent hookup culture on campus, students often find themselves consumed by thoughts pertaining to their love life, especially on Valentine’s Day. In college, however, fulfillment, or your “other half,” might not come in the form of a significant other. Rather, it can be the understanding of who you really are and what you want to do with your life, while also making sure you enjoy yourself along the way.

University students still have quite a bit of time ahead of themselves. We should not be dwelling on expectations, sulking in self-pity, or working to compensate for our supposed shortcomings. We should be falling in love with our future and our potential, not a relationship or date we use to avoid loneliness on a commercial holiday.

 

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